Hunting knife and field dressing

Choosing a hunting knife and basic field dressing of game.

A good hunting knife is essential for field dressing (gutting) game. You don't need a big Rambo knife. A sharp, controllable knife with an 8 to 10 cm blade is ideal.

Blade types: Drop point: Versatile, good control, difficult to puncture stomach/intestines. Best for beginners. Skinning blade: Short, wide blade optimized for skinning. A specialist tool. Gut hook: Hook on the spine of the blade for opening the belly without damaging organs.

Steel: Stainless steel (440C, VG-10, S30V) is easiest to maintain in the field. Carbon steel holds an edge longer but rusts.

Popular brands: Helle (Norwegian!), Morakniv, Buck, Benchmade. Helle Gaupe and Helle Eggen are classics among Norwegian hunters.

Field dressing deer (simplified): 1. Place the animal on its back. Open the belly from chest to pelvis without cutting into intestines/stomach. 2. Remove the organs (rumen, intestines, liver, heart, lungs). Save the heart and liver. 3. Drain blood. Let the animal cool with the belly open. 4. Transport to cold storage/butcher as quickly as possible.

Hygiene: Wash your hands and knife between each animal. Use disposable gloves. CWD samples are taken from lymph nodes in the head (follow local instructions).

Keep your knife sharp. A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one. Bring a honing rod or whetstone in the field.